Everyone is Looking Up to Someone

Earlier this month, I spent a few days at Vanderbilt Baseball Camp—a place that always humbles me. For the past 11 years, I walk in ready to coach, but I leave as a student. It's one of the reasons I keep coming back. The caliber of the coaches there is incredible. Their expertise, intentionality, and ability to connect with players are all things I aspire to.

I go to learn with them and learn from them.

But this year, I walked away with a unique perspective.

As we navigated the week of camp, a younger coach pulled me aside and started asking about leadership and for career advice. It was a strange moment of realization—while I was busy looking up to the men and women around me, someone was looking up to me.

Later in the week, as camp drew to a close, another coach reminded me of something I had said to him years ago during a challenging time in his life. I barely remembered the conversation, but he recalled it vividly. He said it gave him the confidence to keep going when he felt like walking away.

This isn't a "pat yourself on the back newsletter", but rather two anecdotes that I needed to share. Many times at camp, I look up to my friends, other coaches and think, "wow, they are crushing it. They have it all figured out..." This year, I realized there are probably some coaches that think the same about me... If they only knew... I'm the President of the Imposter Syndrome Club.

It’s easy to think we’re always the ones trying to reach the next level, always looking for someone to guide us. But leadership is rarely a straight line. We’re all looking up to someone, while someone else is looking up to us.

Your words, your example, your encouragement—they might be the exact thing someone needs to take the next step.

So lead boldly. Not because you have all the answers, but because your presence might be the answer for someone else.

Strive for Excellence,

RB